I'VE spent a good deal of time recently talking to prospective Parliamentary candidates and it’s apparent Macclesfield is considered such a ‘safe’ seat a sheep could win it AND probably will.

We do have some very able candidates but once they are inducted into the ‘system’ they’ll be shorn, wormed and turned out to bleat any time the Party tells them.

Of course, they’ll start out determined to ‘make a difference’ but ask too many difficult questions and they’ll soon be whipped into line. That’s the way it works. If you don’t believe me try this little test. Ask your local councillor if he or she believed the pay package of £200K was reasonable reward for the chief executive of half a county. Then ask if they supported the extraordinary pay off of the previous chief exec. Now ask why they didn’t object.

Embarrass the leadership and the full wrath of the Party machine descends upon you (see Sir Nick for details). Your future will evaporate faster than snow on a Miami rooftop, far better to tow the Party line.

Tory Central Macclesfield consider Macclesfield such a push-over it hardly registers on David Cameron’s radar. That’s why Gorgeous George was handed Tatton; like him, it’s a no-brainer and the very reason I believe Macclesfield should return an Independent candidate.

Despite the wholesale loss of jobs, a pension crisis and record house repossessions the banks have quickly stuck their snouts back in the trough and once the election’s over Parliament will do likewise. It’ll be repackaged and sold under a different heading but there’ll be no seismic shift.

If we really want to see change we have to support those willing and able to demand it and within the present system it’s not going to happen. Politicians need to know that people of Macclesfield have minds of their own.

Given a good Independent candidate-all bets are off.

The views on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express